Mobile operator strategy N56

Verizon bought 23 wireless licenses and operating assets for $102m in cash from Leap Wireless International.

Cingular is promoting towards businesses unlimited cellular usage (on its EDGE network) at $80 per month + additional $20 per month for unlimited WiFi at 4000 hotspots. In comparaison, T-Mobile is offering GPRS/WiFi service for $ 30 per month.

China Unicom will build a CDMA network in Macau after it won a mobile license there. It is a first in Chinese telco strategies, but could not remain isolated for a long time. China Mobile is bidding for a controlling stake in Pakistan Telecommunications Co (PTCL).

Vodafone bought 100% of Oskar (Czech Rep. mobile op.) and 80% of Mobifon-Connex (Romanian mobile op.). Both companies were belonging to TWI and hold GSM and UMTS licenses. The transaction is worth $4.4bn (including 0.9bn in debt and $ 3.5bn in cash). Doing so, Vodafone improves its position in fast growing Eastern Europe countries.  Vodafone introduced its “At Home” box performing phone calls, fax and web surfing via its mobile network. It will introduce push-to-talk phones in New Zealand.

T-Mobile highlighted its strategy at CeBIT show. It can be summarized in three points:

-  provide low rates to address mass market

-  provide open access to mobile internet (unrestricted access at reasonable prices)

-  provide the latest and most powerful technology in devices (MDA IV) and fast network (3G, HSDPA, )

AIS (Thailand) will launch 3G service in May.

Amp'd Mobile (USA) will become a new MVNO on Verizon Wireless network to target users in the 18 to 35 age group.

Primus Telecom (USA) is entering the MVNO market with a service aimed at customers who frequently make international calls.

DoCoMo delays the launch of its HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network in Japan until 2H06. Many analysts said it is due to technical problems.